BBC, 5 March 2015 Ebola Outbreak: Liberia releases last Patient
Liberia has released its last Ebola patient after going a week without any new cases of the virus, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Beatrice Yardolo, 58, left a Chinese-run treatment centre in the capital Monrovia after two weeks of treatment. Nearly 10,000 people have died from Ebola, the vast majority in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. WHO officials say there were 132 new cases in Guinea and Sierra Leone in the week to 1 March. It is the first time since May 2014 that Liberia has had no new cases of the virus, the officials added.
TV 360, 5 March 2015 42 die of Meningitis in Kebbi
At least 42 people have been reported dead in Kebbi due to cerebral spinal meningitis, the state’s Ministry of Health has said. Director Disease Control of the state’s Ministry of Health Aliyu Usman Bunza said the victims are from 5 local governments of the state namely Jega, Argungu, Gwandu, Aliero and Zuru. He added that 46 cases and 3 deaths were recorded at Jega, 6 cases and no death in Argungu, Gwandu had 36 cases and no death while Zuru had 5 deaths and 17 cases.
Daily Independent, 4 March 2015 Mothers lament Cost of Consumables for Children Immunisation in Lagos
Some mothers in Lagos have lamented that they were being made to bear the costs of some consumables during the routine immunisation schedules of their babies. They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews that bearing the burden of the cost, no matter how little, had added to their financial stress. Others said they could not continually afford the cost of buying some of the consumables if indeed the immunisation was supposed to be free. A NAN correspondent who visited some immunisation centres in Lagos metropolis observed that each mother was asked to buy gloves and absorbent changing pad to be used on her baby before weighing. Some of the hospitals visited were the Primary Health Centre, Akerele, Surulere; Primary Health Centre, Jakande Estate, Isolo; and the Primary Health Centre, Oki, Alaguntan area of Alimosho.
Outbreak News Today, 2 March 2015 Nigeria reports 1st Lassa Fever Death of 2015
The acute viral illness, Lassa fever, is no stranger to the west African country of Nigeria where the disease is endemic. In fact, during the previous two years, Nigeria has recorded more than 2,200 cases and nearly 80 deaths due to the zoonotic infection. According to the latest data from Nigeria Centre for Disease Control’s (NCDC), Federal Ministry of Health Weekly Epidemiology Report, Nigeria has seen 19 cases and one fatality since the beginning of the year. Six of the 36 states have reported cases and the one death was from Bauchi State. In 2014, Lassa fever was a serious problem in 23 of the 36 states of that country.
Guardian 5 March 2015 Minister inaugurates new Committee on National Health Act
Minister and Supervising Minister of Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan has sworn in a new Technical Review Committee (TRC) for the National Health Act (NHAct-2014). The review Committee that was cautiously selected to guarantee representation of the key institutions has directive for the implementation of the NH Act. Speaking at the inauguration, Alhassan, spoke on the need for the Technical Review Committee (TRC) and said that all members are likely to advise him on any matter relating to the acts.
Guardian, 3 March 2015 Agency begins free Medical Treatment for Soldiers and Families
boost the morale of Nigerian military personnel involved in the fight against insurgency, an international organization, Cry for Help, has commenced free medical treatment for soldiers and members of their families. The programme, according to organizers, will take a stretch of three months and would move to all military barracks in the country. Founder of Cry for Help, Vera Mensah, who spoke at the flag off of the medical mission at the Mambilla Barracks, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory stressed that over 2, 000 medical personnel were involved in the scheme with enough drugs for those in need of them. She said the scheme was in partnership with Good Health for All Nigerians Initiative.
Premium Times, 2 March 2015 Emergency Patients lament poor Attendance at Army Hospital
Criticism has continued to trail the slow response of health personnel to accident and emergency cases at 44-Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna. Families of patients with emergency cases, who spoke to our correspondent on Monday in Kaduna, lamented the slow response in the hospital. An accident patient, Danladi Samuel, who asked that his name be changed, said he and his sister were brought to the hospital after they were involved in a road accident, but said it took over two hours before they were attended to. The Good Samaritan who took both victims to the hospital said such attitude by health workers will discourage rescuers from assisting accident victims and will also encourage heat and run.
Daily Trust, 5 March 2015 FG moves to resolve Human Resource Challenges
The federal government has began processes to register all health workers with the view to collecting vital information that will aid them resolve the challenges of human resources. Director, health planning research and statistics, Dr Ngozi Azodoh made this known at a workshop for trainers on operation of the national health work force registry in Abuja. She said that the register would assist government correct the lopsided distribution of health workers.
Tribune, 5 March 2015 NiMSA holds first National Executive Council Meeting
It was the first time they met and they resolved to tackle the problems of outdated medical curriculum and inadequate funding of medical schools which, they claimed negatively impact their clinical training. The student doctors also expressed their determination to turn around the fortunes of their association this year.
Nigeria Health Watch, 3 March 2015 Do APC and PDP care about the Health of Nigerians?
As we approach the new date for the presidential elections, we decided to use the additional time provided by the postponement to scrutinize the two leading party manifestoes on health in a bit more detail. While there are other parties also in the race, we have chosen for convenience to focus on the manifestoes of the two front-runner parties – the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
EpiAFRIC is a health sector focused consulting group working to improve
population health through expert research and data analytics, project
design and evaluation, health communication, advocacy and training. Our
non-profit arm is Nigeria Health Watch.
